192. THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
     drawing from 4 to 5 feet could cross its Bar without
     incurring a greater risk than they would at either of
     the other rivers; the only obstacle to the navigation
     of this river is a dangerous snag on the northern
     side of the southwest channel, in the break on the
     Bar, which I think it possible to remove without very
     much difficulty.

It is high water, full and change, at 9 hours 55
minutes, mean rise and fall 9 feet.

I have carefully studied the coast line from the
Grey to the Hokitika, and I have examined the pro-
posed boat-landing, situated about 1½ miles to the
northward of the River Arahaura, and I am of opinion
that though the place indicated is without a doubt the
best adapted for the boat communication; yet I can-
not recommend the establishment of a surf-boat
service. I believe it would entail great loss of life
and property, and in the end prove a signal failure.
The objections against this means of communica-
tion are as follows:-

1st. The irregularity of the line of surf, and the
great distance the broken water extends to seaward.
2nd. The non-consistency of the shingle outside of
the break, which renders it incapable of holding any
surf moorings.
3rd. The highest rollers break outside in from 1½
to 2 fathoms water, a long distance from the beach,
and nearly always present such a volume of water as
to preclude the possibility of hauling any boat through
it to gain an offing.

It is my belief that a boulder-bank exists, extend-
ing the whole distance from the Grey to the Hokitika,
running parallel with the beach, at a distance of from
five to six hundred yards to seaward—that it is on
this the heaviest of the break takes place through
this the freshes down the rivers burst, forming the
channels over the Bars; and I cannot help thinking
that this portion of the coast is extending to the
westward, being gradually formed by the sea through
a series of lagoons. The whole coast immediately
above highwater mark tends to confirm this opinion,
not less so the lowwater to the North of the Ara-
haura, where the sea has nearly completed its work
in forming a new lagoon.

I have, &c.,
FREDK. D. GIBSON,
G. S. Sale, Esq., Commissioner,
Hokitika.
Port Officer.

Hokitika, May 9th, 1865.

SIR, I have the honor to submit to you my report
on the coast between the Hokitika and Mahitahi
Rivers, which I have visited in company with Mr.
John Rochfort, for the purpose of examining from
seaward the bars of the various rivers, with a view of
finding another port.

On Saturday evening the "Bruce," under com-
mand of Captain Malcolm, shaped a course at dusk,
and proceeded under easy steam for Okarita. The
wind was south-west with drizzling rain and a long
rolling swell (Barometer 29°). At daylight on
Sunday, 7th, finding ourselves off the Waiau, or five
miles to the South of the Okarita, we steamed back
to it. The weather on our arrival there was very
hazy, and the swell rapidly increasing broke fre-
quently in 9 fathoms with great irregularity off the
entrance, indicating a foul rocky bottom. The Bar
appeared one mass of broken water, showing no
channel. Mr. Rochfort informing me of a sheltered
bay situated midway between our position and Jack-
son's Bay, into which a small river named Mahitahi
empties itself; consulting with him, I determined to
examine it, the more so as I wished to give time for
the sea to go down so that I might further examine
the Okarita on my return. Steaming close along the
shore at half speed, at 2 p.m. we ran out of a heavy
swell into fine smooth water. Cautiously sounding
till close in under the South Head, we dropped our
anchor at three fathoms at dead low water; the
bottom was hard speckled sand, and apparently good
holding ground. I consider this bay a much better
harbor than either Timaru, Oamaru, or Moeraki,
because it is protected from everything except a
northerly wind, which seldom blows here with any
violence, and on necessity a sailing vessel could put
to sea without any difficulty; besides which, I feel
sure vessels could generally discharge their cargo in
their own boats, so little surf is there on the beach;
and were there a short inexpensive jetty constructed
in the South corner, on the sand, even in a northerly
breeze I hardly think cargo boat communication
would be intercepted; and further, it will, I am sure,
prove a great acquisition to the larger description of
vessels seeking shelter from a southerly breeze, being
the only protected anchorage between Wanganui
Inlet and Jackson's Bay, which latter place it closely
resembles. The southern headland is a bold rocky
promontory, stretching out a mile and a half in a
north-west direction, and forming the shelter. On
this we landed, stepping from the boat on a rock, and
re-embarked at dark dry-shod. I have named the
bay "Bruce Bay," because that vessel was the first
to anchor there.

The weather looking fine, and the water glass-
smooth, we weighed anchor at 3:30 a.m. the following
day; but no sooner did we leave Bruce Bay than we
fell into a heavier swell than yesterday, our hopes of
entering any of the smaller bar rivers fell very con-
siderably, nevertheless we determined on examining
them as closely as safety would permit. We coasted
along the shore, which is all of a similar character,
between Bruce Bay and Hokitika, being in diggers'
parlance "made terraces," thickly timbered, the coast
line, with a few exceptions at the headlands, being
sandy beach.

At Waikukupa, a small creek abreast of Mount
Cook, I observed the cutter "Trader" safely riding
inside. You may recollect she left here some weeks
ago with a party of prospectors, having the intention
of entering the Wanganui. Five tents were pitched
near her; we were prevented from holding com-
munication by the heavy surf. Mr. Rochfort tells
me this creek is not deeper at low water than your
ankles. So I pass on to the Okarita.

It was now perfectly clear, and we stood in as far
as it was safe, and obtained a good view of the en-
trance, which I found much more confined and
intricate than had been represented, and very much
inferior to the Hokitika. Hohuhamaru, which is on
the southern side of the Okarita, is a high rocky
headland from which a rocky bottom evidently
stretches out to the north-west causing an irregular
heavy cross swell, frequently breaking, which would
preclude vessels from anchoring outside. The North
side is a low sandy bank covered with coarse grass
and flax, extending some five miles North, and en-
closing a lagoon of considerable size. The resident
natives told Mr. Rockfort that in their remembrance
the entrance has been completely closed up, so that
they could walk across dry-footed, being in this
respect similar to Lake Ellesmere.

The wind and sea increasing, and seeing no pros-
pect of being able to enter in our limited time, I next
visited in turn the Wataroa and Wanganui Rivers,
standing in as before to the edge of the breakers. As
both the entrances were narrow and more exposed to
the south-west or prevailing swell, I did not consider
them worthy of further notice, as they could only be
entered by a very small class of craft, and that in
chosen weather; so thinking it unadvisable to lose
more time, we steamed on for Hokitika.